Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-01

double line of distinguished lawyers,
EDUCATION AND START.
After preparatory training in local
schools the deceased entered the Uni
vcrsity of North Carolina, at Chapel
Hill From that place he went to the
University of Virginia, and from the
latter institution TO Pittsylvania county,
where he began the study of the law
! under Mr.. James Whittle (brother of
Bishop Whittle), whose partner he
| afterwards became. He had made a
distinct and noteworthy mark in his
| profession when the war came on. He
WIS prompt to respond to the call to
arms, and was for two years in the
field. The last two years Of the war he
was on detached duty in Richmond,
and occupied one of the most trouble
some and responsible positions in the
Confederacy-viz., provost marshal
here.
PROVOST MARSHAL.
Major Carrington's Office was in a
framed building erected by the Confed-
rate Government ON the west side of
Tenth street, and extended from Capt.
| tOl to Broad street. After the war
it was for some time used by the
Frcedman's Bureau; later it was re-
moved to Navy Hill and converted into
Il schoOl-house for eolOred children.
Major Darlington as provost had the
issuing of passports to citizens and
others who wished to leave the be-
| leagucred capital, no matter for how
short II trip or how brief jaunt 1t
was his duty also to look after
spies, deserters, stragglers, and all the
strange folks who in those days hocked
| to Richmond.
1t was an Office of great authority and
trust. Major Darlington was II bold,
decided, honest man, and his admins
tration was a pure one. He had almost
despotic power, and plenty Of force to
execute his will, but none but wrong
| dOcrs ever had reason to fear him. He
was provost when the orders were given
to eyacuate Richmond.
HIS ACCOUNT OF THE RICHMOND FIRE.
Years ago being called upon to give
an account of the evacuation fire, as
evidence in a suit then pending, Major
Darlington said:
lam requested 20 state myknowlcdea Of facts
connected with the Ere Of April 3, 1855, in the
city of Richmond. ] was at that date Provost
Marshal Of The city under appointment Of the
Secretary Of War Of the Confederate States. /
reported to General Ewell a. my commanding
officer in all matters relating to the city.
Some weeks before the evacuation Of Rich
rond General EWell sent for me, and informed
me that lie had orders 10 destroy all tobacco.
cotton. and military and naval stores in the city
in The event that its evacuation became ncces-
cary tie instructed me 20 make inquiry a. %
the amount aud location Of these articles in the
city.
i soon after reported 10 him that there was no
considerable quantity Of any OF these articles
excepting tobacco, Of which there was a large
quantity.
General Ewel took steps for having the leaf
tobacco In the city, a. far as possible, kept In
ShOckOe and Won GrOning's warehouses;. on
Cary street, and In the warehouse AT the Peters
burg depot
We had frequent conversations on the subject.
in which he deplOred the necessity for exc
cutting the order, and expressed the hope that II
could he avoided.
On sunday, April 2. 1865, General Ewell sent
for me, informed me that the city must be
evacuated, and directed mo tOprepare for burn
ing the warehouses aforesaid, but not 10 apply
fire until the last moment. | sent officers 10
these three warehouses with orders 10 prepare
comhustibles in such manner that they could be
quickly fired, and TO place sufficient guard at
each to prevent any disturbance.
IalsO sent an officer To communicate with the
Chief OF the Fire Department Of the city, 10 In
form him of the location Of fire, and 10 require
him 70 have the flremcn and their engines on
the ground 10 prevent the spread Of the flames.
The officer reported that he had communicated
with the person second In authority, the Chief
of the Fire Department being out Of the city.
During Sunday night was several times al
the ONCE Of the Secretary Of War General
Brecknridge). / recOllect that informed him
Of the orders had received, and Of the actiOnl
had taken. He said that II was necessity
that the orders must be carried out, with all
precautions taken 10 prevent a spread OF the
nre.
NV final orders from General Ewel were 20
remain In the city as long rs | could with safe
". and TO preserve order a. far as possible with
the troops under my command, and 10 hre the
tobacco before left
General Ewell and General Breckinndge left
the city together by way of MayO's bridge,
abOut or little before daybreak OF Monday, 81
OF April ! parted with them al the corner Of
Fourteenth aud Cary streets as they rode OF:
General Ewell said TO me, just as he left, that
the firing Of tobacco could not be longer de-
laycd
/ gave the orders 10 two Of the men with me,
and they at once communicated them 10 tue
officers on guard at the warehouses. The fire
was applied at once at ShOckOe aud Won Gro
ning's warehouses.
1he officers at the warehouse at the Peters
burg depot sent me word that number OF
wounded Confederate soldiers had been laid IN
that warehouse, and that they could not be re-
moved. directed the cOmbusubles collected
al that place 10 be removed, and cOuntermand-
ed the order for burning IL.
The night was remarkably still | remarked
the fact several times during the night thai
there was not a breath OF air stirring Very
soon after the, warehouses were fired The wind
rose from the southeast, aud in short time
quite a breeze was blowing from that direction
/ left the city Just about sunrise Monday
morning by the River road or Plank road, going
up the river.
IN LIBBY PRISON.
In n week or two after the evacua-
ton of Richmond Major Darlington
was prisoner of war in the Libby, in
this city. There were several hundred
Confederates incarcerated there at the
time, among them Colonel Robert
Ould, Confederate Commissioner for
the Exchange of Prisoners of War.
Against the two gentlemen named there
were charges of cruelty against Fede-
raj captiyes, but after two months 1t
was found that the accusation was
wholly baseless and they were set at
ubtIty' -
I'm the Libby Colonel Ould and Major
Darlington were necessarily thrown
much together. They had been nc
quaintances before. Now they became
close friends, aud they resolved that rs
soon as they were set at liberty they
would form a partnership for the prac-
tice of law in Richmond, which design
they carried out, and Ould q Caring
ton at once took high rank at the Rich
mond bar.
oULD 4 cARRINGToN.
The friendship and partnership
formed in the Libby continued until
the death OF Judge Ould a few years
ago. The firm was very successful
one. Judge Ould possessed extraordi-
nary powers OF oratory, and was in every
=. Ill laxuOoF Major /